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Friday, July 31, 2015

Netflix, worth the price for Bloodlinealone, has some hot choices this month that makes its $8 a month price totally ten-buck-worthy.

Wet Hot American Summer: First Day Of Camp
(2015)

I haven’t seen this
prequel to literal camp classic Wet Hot American Summer, but this 6-episode
series is a good bet for something to watch indoors this month. Paul Rudd, Amy
Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, Molly Shannon, Jason Schwartzman,
Chris Meloni, David Hyde Pierce and Janeane Garofalo are back. (Available July
31.)

Mission Impossible (1996)

Your mission, if
you choose to accept it, is to enjoy Brian DePalmas flawless heist scene in the
first Mission Impossible film to get
excited about the well-reviewed Mission
Impossible: Rogue Nation, in theaters July 31. Mission number two, rally
for Tom Cruise as if you have no idea about Scientology, which might prove to
be…well, you know. (Available now.)

Two
Days, One Night (2014)

What could be hotter than August 2015? Perhaps Marion
Cotillard. In Two Days, One Night, she
plays a young Belgian mother who has only one weekend to convince her
colleagues to give up their bonuses so that she can keep her job. (Available August 16.)

Man On Wire (2008)

Robert Zemekis’ (Flight, Forrest Gump Back To The Future) upcoming 3D film, The Walk, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt
should have our full attention in theaters October 2. Before that lands, check
out the 2008 Oscar winner for Best Documentary
that showcases the same story — tightrope walker Philippe Petit's daring, but
illegal, high-wire routine performed between New York City's World Trade
Center's twin towers in 1974.
(Available now.)

Seeking A Friend For The End of the World (2012)

If the world was ending, you could do much worse than spending your final days
with Keira Knightley and Steve Carrell. This is not worth your final two hours on earth of course, but it’s pleasantly worth your time if you’re looking for
something simple to watch on TV while folding laundry. (Available Aug 16.)

Monday, July 20, 2015

… says Arnold Schwaneggar’s
Terminator machine character. Everyone in this film talks too much, baybee.
They’re all trying to explain the story background, the new plot, time travel,
and every muddled thing you can imagine, including why Arnold’s Terminator has
aged.

There’s an interesting story buried
in the Genisys plot somewhere, but by the time the third act gives John Connor
an unwelcome twist, I wish I could time travel to the end of this film. Without
spoiling much, let’s just say that Terminator Genisys does to him what Go
Set A Watchman does to Attitus.

On the plus, it’s a blast to see
Arnold back onscreen as this character, but it hurts to see all these efforts
put towards a muddled mess. Emilia Clarke is perfect as a young Sarah Connor.
Jai Courtney also has star power onscreen as an everyman hero (but he didn’t
play to or pull off his character’s military background). I don’t think these
new actors matter though; we won’t see any more of these films for decades now.

We’ve had three sequels since the
perfect action film, Terminator 2, in 1991. It’s clear that Arnold’s signature
series only works when James Cameron is involved. Someone please tell Skynet.

Simply put:If only we could send a
Terminator back in time and terminate this whole production.

Locked away from society in an apartment in Manhattan, seven
brothers (named the Wolfpack), learn about the outside world through films. Much
of their time was caught on film and is showcased in this documentary.

It’s an unbelievable story that should be told in some way. For some folks, this film is it. The Wolfpack took the Documentary Grand
Jury Prize at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.

I wasn’t moved as much. Perhaps because I don’t identify with
extreme fans of horror film, I found it really hard to get emotionally pulled
in to these characters. I watched the footage more distant than the big screen
should allow. For me, this documentary seems more suited for a special 20/20 TV
show versus a full film.

Simply put:A fascinating story. Not
a fascinating film.

Award
potential:It
could be a contender for Best Documentary
Feature, but I’m not betting on it.

Ted, was a laugh riot with the right amount of heart. That heart
was built around the broship of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg ) and Ted (Voiced
by Seth MacFarlane) and the complications that come from the new person in
their life, John’s fiancé. Ted 2
flips this basic setup and focuses on Ted’s fiancé’s difficulties. Somehow all
that heart stuff doesn’t work when a bear is trying to pull strings about feelings
and civil rights. Neither do the tired jokes (Flash Gordon is back, ah-nah). Plus, Ted 2 offers an indulgent opening song and dance number without one laugh planned. What were they thinking?

Simply put:I laughed out loud at a
few things that caught me by surprise. Note those last four words.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Amy, the
documentary about Amy Winehouse, the iconic British songstress who famously
sang “no, no, no” to rehab, easily could have been just another Behind The Music rockumentary. You know,
know, know the familiar rock stararc:
Tortured artist rises to fame, turns to drugs and alcohol and dies too early.

However, the filmmakers had amazing access to her personal voicemails,
candid home videos, filmed recording sessions and televised events, which takes
Amy to a new level; it’s two hours of
fascinating.

I expected the documentary to be half about her personal life
and half about the influence her music had on those that followed her. It’s
not. There are no clips from Adele or Lady Gaga. The only artist to reflect in
this film, Tony Bennett, compares her legacy to Billie Holiday and Ella
Fitzgerald. It’s the only odd moment in the film. With only two albums to her
name, that quote would have only felt right in a movie that spent any time
exploring her influential place in music. This movie focuses on her chaotic personal life.

It was the right approach. I often find it difficult to
sympathize with self-destructive superstars, but this film is so personal that
I did. Through the candid footage, viewers can feel the chaos of going from just a
girl who can sing to a wealthy worldwide star under scrutiny of both the
paparazzi and family and record labels that want the money train to keep
moving forward.

Any album-owning fan will enjoy seeing Amy on the big screen.

Simply put:The best parts are the small moments that
reveal so much about Amy. Just like the lyrics of her songs.

Award
potential: It’s not revolutionary filmmaking nor socially or politically
impactful, so it’s a long
shot for an Oscars Best Documentary nomination.